Mad Hatter Coed Sand Volleyball Tournament (October 19st, 2024)

MAD HATTER TOURNAMENT FORMAT

• All players will be randomly placed on 4 different teams for 4 different games. As players check in, they will be randomly placed on their corresponding teams. Each player will participate in 4 games of 4’s.  Based on the results of these games we’ll individually rank all players based on the criteria listed below and the top players will move onto the playoffs where they are again given a new 4’s team.

• Based on the results of the first 4 games all players will be ranked by following criteria:

1. Overall record of your 4 games (two sets each)
2. Total point differential of all the four games
3. In the rare case where there is a tie after these two factors we will go to a coin flip

SCORING

• All matches are rally scoring of two sets to 21 points. Teams must win by 2 with a cap at 25. Teams will switch sides between each set. Rally scoring simply means that a point will be awarded each time the ball is served regardless of who served it.

SERVING

• A team earns service possession for the start of the first game by winning Rock/Paper/Scissors. The teams will then alternate service every other game.

• A legal serve is one that crosses the net and is either touched by an opposing player or lands within the opposing team’s area of the court within the boundary lines.  A serve that makes contact with the net and carries over to the opponent’s side of the net is a live serve and must be returned.

• No jump serves are allowed.

• When the serving team wins the rally, the player who served before, serves again.

• When the receiving team wins the rally, it gains the right to serve and rotates before actually serving.  The player in the front right position moves to the back right position to serve.  In 4’s team members do not need to rotate positions but must rotate servers.

• Players on the receiving team cannot block a serve.

PLAYING THE BALL

• Team members do not need to rotate positions on the court. They do have to rotate service though. 

• Every player is eligible to attack the net.

• Each team is allowed a maximum of 3 successive contacts of the ball in order to return the ball to the opponent’s area.

• Open hand dinks are illegal.

• Returning a serve with a set is illegal and must be "passed" with a bump (hands together below the wrist) or with your hands together (above the waist).

• Players are not permitted to scoop, hold or lift the ball. The ball must be clearly hit.

• There is no centerline. You may cross under the net providing that you do not contact a player from the other side or hinder their play of the ball.

• The ball must cross the plane of the net before contact may be made unless it is the 3rd hit by the offense and the contact is made to block the shot.

• Contact with the net is a violation. This includes contact made by hats, hair or clothing.

• Crossing or playing over any of the ball guards is a dead ball.

• Crossing into the other courts is a dead ball. 

• A stray ball onto the court constitutes a replay if it comes in during play.

BLOCKING

• Blocking is the action close to the net which intercepts the ball coming from the opponent's side by making contact with the ball before, during or after it crosses the net.

• A block contact is not counted as a team hit, and a team is entitled to 3 hits to return the ball.

• The first hit after the block may be executed by any player, including the one who blocked the ball.

OFFICIALS

• All games in the tournament will be self officiated.  Representatives from each team are responsible for notifying tournament staff of results and scores of each game.  It is recommended that this is done immediately after each game so as to not forget the total scores which will impact overall player rankings.

CONCLUSION

• We enforce a “Zero Tolerance Policy” in regards to behavior of players and fans. Taunting, trash talking, or abusive language will not be tolerated. Tournament staff will have the right to reprimand or eject players, managers, or fans depending on the severity of the situation.

• Any rules not covered or protests will be handled by the Tournament Director.

• All decisions of the Tournament Director are final. The Tournament Director shall also have the final authority to make adjustments to match schedules, match duration, and other aspects of the tournament as may become necessary during the course of the tournament.